By Charnika Imbulana
The London Grill has gone all Swiss with award winning best young talents, Chef Celine Maier, who has transformed one of Colombo’s best fine-dining restaurants, to an all Swiss experience like never before. The “Contemporary Swiss Cuisine Celebration” is now on, until 4th August.
Swiss Cuisine is the hallmark of gourmet dining. The London Grill, all dressed up beautifully for this exceptional Swiss celebration prepares you for this elevated Swiss dining experience in true authentic style.
A curated a la carte menu is on offer that harmonizes Alpine classics that not only lets you indulge in elevated Swiss dinning but epitomizes the authentic Swiss standard, promising an experience that resonates in memory long after the final taste.
Historically an agricultural nation, the country’s isolated territories developed and maintain a cuisine characterized by classic traditional recipes using hearty, locally sourced and organic ingredients thus Switzerland’s Cuisine reflects its’ linguistic and cultural variety, offering a blend of regional and local dishes.
To be able to blend the established structure of these specific European recipes and still produce the same hearty essence with stylized dishes requires acute skill and understanding.
We see that for Chef Maier, this in gourmet parlance appears to be just chicken feed. Chef Maier is an illustrious winner of the Euroskills 2023 biennale competition in Gdansk, Poland and was awarded gold for her extraordinary creativity in reinventing traditional Swiss Culinary fare. Her innovative, promising journey is founded on the cornerstones of Swiss culinary excellence.
She displays her skills at what is best described as an ode to Swiss Culinary heritage, now happening with an excellent collaboration with The London Grill which is to my experience a combination that can be described by far, as the finest in fine dining.
My pick for the evening for the 1st course was Aged Salmon that consisted of; gravlax, beetroot, mouse pickled beetroot, sour cream and herb oil. There was the Sausage Salad for those who preferred a heavier Starter that included cervelat cheese and fresh greens.
I identify the country Switzerland and its food by the dish, Cheese Fondue! This, to my delight was served as the 2nd Course.
The Main Course ‘Chicken a la Zurich’ was a feast. The full dish contained potato rosti, confit vegetables and charcoal chips. There was indeed a choice for the beef eaters- the renowned Swiss Beef Stew with polenta, confit vegetables, and caramelized onions.
The Dessert with the Apple Cake accompanied by the sweet cider, cream honey glaze and whipped cream to top it all made the Swiss experience par excellence.
Chef Maier interacted with us after the meal and revealed that she employs innovative practices and techniques to create the intricate and stunning Swiss cuisine tailored for the modern gourmand, all the while preserving the roots to her country’s culinary traditions.
Her creations are artistically calculated dishes, almost designer in their appeal and representative of her meticulous eye for detail.
The plating style features robust colors reminiscent of Switzerland’s vibrant landscapes, prime-grade meat cuts lacquered with rich sauces and organic produce of exceptional grade.
Chef Maier’s mastery shines through the eclectic and often abstract arrangements in her plating, preceded only by the flavor profiles that trademark her cooking.
In today’s dynamic, revolutionary world, being a contemporary Chef demands constant creativity and originality. Chef Maier’s dedication to her craftsmanship has earned her global status and it’s the same drive that propels her toward culinary excellence.
With commitment to providing epicurean distinction, this collaboration at The London Grill with Chef Miar’s skills offers an elevated look at Swiss dinning, with all the promise of true Swiss quality that is exceptional and extraordinary. Reserve your place to experience as it lasts only until the 4th August.
